Ironing-machine clamp



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

I RA. WALKER. IRONING MACHINE CLAMP.

No. 486,650. Patented Nov. 22, 1892'.

(No Model.) .2Sheets-Sheet 2. P. A. WALKER.

IRONING MACHINE CLAMP.

No. 486,650. Patented Nov. 2-2, 1892.

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be itknown that I, FREDERICK A. WALKER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Evanston, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have inventeda new and useful Improvement in Ironing-Machine Clamps, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in the class of clamping devices employed on the bed of a shirt-ironing machine at the head end of the ironing-board for fastening the shirt at the neckband, thereby to hold the bosom true while being ironed and the neckban'd below the plane of operation of the ironingroller.

The objects of my invention are to provide a generally improved construction of clamping device for the purpose stated, and one which shall be adapted to be worked forsetting and releasing the clamp or clamps from the head end of the board.

My improvement is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in Which I Figure 1 is a plan view showing the clampng device closed in its position of co-operatmg with the ironing board of a shirt-ironing machine, of which a broken portion is represented. Fig. 2 is a similar view of the same, showing the clamping device open. Fig. 3 is a view in rear elevation of the clamping de- 7 cc in its operative position. Figs. 4: and 5 are broken views in sectional elevation, the .ections being taken, respectively, at thelines and 5 on Fig. 1 and viewed as indicated by i he arrows.

A is the table portion of an ironing-majhine of any desired construction, and D is an roning-board or ironing-surface having a {cess l in its forward or head end, shoulderortions Z being provided at opposite sides f the recess.

I provide my improved clamping device as n attachment to be applied to the bed A in osition to co-operate with the forward end of he board D to hold the shirt being ironed at its neckband and preferably, also, at its shoulfder portions. B is the base of theclamping device, which I form of metal, and which, as shown, is adapted to be fastened by screws on the bed A.

O is a swinging clamp, comprising a fingerv I IlNiTEn STATES ATENI OFFICE.

FREDERICK A. WALKER, OF EVANSTON, ASSIGNOR TO THE S. H. SINCLAIR COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

lRONlNG-MACHINE CLAMP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 486,650, dated November 22, 1892. Application filed may 20, 1892. $erial No. 433,700. (No model.)

portion r, pivoted at its rear end between lugs 21, provided near the center of the base B toward its forward edge and terminating at its free end in a head r, shown as a cross-bar curved convexly on its outer surface (which should be roughened, as shown) to conform to the base of the recess Z in the board D, and a thumb-piece r or handle portion projects backward from the upper part of the finger 6o portion 7" of the clamp C to afford convenient means for manipulating it. Behind the pivotal point of the clamp C its finger portion 0 is formed into a cam projection 15 to engage a spring m,which operates by its resilient force 6 to snap the clamp after being once started toward and to hold it in its adjusted position, and when the clamp is opened to release the shirt the spring engages the cam at a position wherein the clamp is held open by the spring.

For further holding a shirt on the ironingboard I provide shoulder-clamps C, flanking the clamp C and each comprising a finger portion 13, pivoted between a pair of lugs '12 on the base B and terminating at its rear end in a cam projection t to be engaged by a retaining-springm',serving the same purpose as the spring m in co-operating with the clamp C, and at its free end in a head p, which should be roughened, as indicated,on its face where it is adapted to engage ashoulder Z on the board D,and the headp' is provided with or terminates at its outer end in a thumb-piece p or handle for convenience in manipulating it. While it is not necessary to do so, I prefer to connect the clamps C together, and to that end provide a connecting-yoke 0, having an eye 0' near its center, through which passes the rod n, journaled at its opposite ends in the pair of lugs 'U' and forming the pivoting me- 0 dium for the tWo clamps C, and a set-screw w serves to fasten the yoke rigidly to the rod, and thereby tend to unite the more securely the pivotal supports of the two shoulderclamps with the latter. Thus the shoulder- 5 clamps have practically a common pivotal support on the base and are both adjustable by actuating one. I

With my improved clamping device in 0perative position on an ironing-machine the clamp C and the clamps C may be readily raised to release the shirt to the positions in which they are representedin Fig. 2 by pressing down on their thumb-pieces, and to cause them to engage, respectively, with the neckband and shoulder portions of ashirt adjusted on the board D in position to be ironed they are as readily turned down by operating them from their thumb-pieces. Thus, as will be seen, the manipulation of the clamping device to work it may be performed from the head end of the ironing-board, and there are no levers or other devices for manipulating the clamps projecting beyond the board into positions wherein they interfere With the ready adjustment of the shirt on the board.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a clamping device for ironingmachines, the combination, With a suitable base, of a neckband-clamp 0, comprising a finger portion 0', pivotally supported on the base and having a cam projection tat its rear end and terminating at its opposite endin a head '1" to enter and to co-operate with the neckband-recess in an ironing-board, a thumb-piece 0*, extending backward from the finger portion,and a spring m for engaging the said cam projection, substantially as described.

2. In a clamping device for ironing-machines, the combination, with a base B, of a neckband-clamp and shoulder-clamps at upposite sides of the neckband-clamp and having a common pivotal support on the base, said clamps terminating in heads to co-operate with an ironing-board and having handle portions at which to manipulate them from the head end of the ironing-board, substantially as described.

3. In a clamping device for ironing-machines, the combination, with a base 13, of a neckbandclamp (1, comprising a finger portion 0', pivotally supported on the base and terminating at its free endin a head 1' and provided with a thumb-piece 0' shoulder-clamps 0, flanking the clamp C and each comprising a finger portionp, pivotally supported on the base and terminating at its free end in a head 19, provided with a thumb-piecep and springs m and m to engage the clamps, substantially as described.

4. A clamping device for ironing-machines, comprising, in combination, a base B, a neckband-clamp 0, comprising a finger portion 7', pivotally supported on the base and terminating at its free end in a head r and provided with a thumb-piece r shoulder-clamps C flanking the clamp O and each comprising (4 finger portion 1), pivotally supported on the base and terminating at its free end in a thumb-piece 19 a rod at, extending between and forming the pivot for the two shoulderclamps, a yoke 0, connecting the two shoulderclamps and fastened to the rod, and springs m and m for the clamps, the whole being constructed and arranged to operate substantially as described.

FREDERICK A. \VALKERL- In presence 0f- J. N. HANSON, W. N. WILLIAMs. 

